Stacking machine



March 3i, 1942. F. J. coucH 2,277,846

' sTAcxING MACHINE Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-SheerI l BYA ATT

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 26, 1936 FIG-2 INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH ATT R E March 31, 1942. F, J CQUCH n 2,277,846

STACKING MACHINE Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR FoRREsT J. coucH ATTORN EYJ' @MMW March 31, 1942. F. J. COUCH STACKING MACHINE Qriginai yFiled June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Y FoRREsT J. coucH ATTORNEYS' March 31, 1942. F. J. vcoucH 2,277,846

sTAcKlNG -MACHVINE Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Llz 1.3

INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH ATT Patented Mar. 31, 1942 STACKING MACHINE Forrest J. Couch, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application June 26, 1936, Serial No. 87,346. Divided and this application March 1l, 1939, Serial No. 261,271

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stacking machines for fabric articles.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 87,346, filed June 26, 1936.

In certain laundering processes it is desirable to stack ironed fabric articles in unfolded condition. This is particularly true with respect to handkerchiefs and similar light fabric articles of small size. The machine will be referred to hereinafter as dealing with handkerchiefs for the purpose of illustration but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to any one particular article.

Machines heretofore used for the handling of handkerchiefs after ironing have had several disadvantages which it is the purpose of my present invention to overcome. One of the disadvantages has been that no means was provided to handle the handkerchiefs as rapidly as an operator could feed them through a modern ironing machine so that the production of the ironing machine was limited to the speed of the operators handling the ironed articles at the delivery end of the machine. One type of handkerchief receiving device provides an individual receptacle for each customers bundle of handkerchiefs but this device has a tendency to muss the ironed articles somewhat and it is limited in capacity because the receiving machine may be lled with ironed handkerchiefs only as rapidly as an operator can empty the filled compartments.

Other types of receiving device for handkerchiefs after ironing comprise delivery on tapes or Vconveyors to folding and stacking operators and here again no arrangement has been found whereby these operators can handle the handkerchiefs at the same speed as they may be ironed.

A feature of my present invention is an arrangement whereby a very large number, of the nature of several hundred, of thin fabric articles, such as handkerchiefs, may be neatly stacked v without mussing or Wrinlrling, without interruption in the process of feeding the articles through an ironing machine. The machine then need be shut down only for a brief period for the removal of the large stack of finished articles from the stacking device, whereupon the machine may resume operation. This device permits a single operator to iron a large number of handkerchiefs at the full capacity of a modern ironing machine and greatly reduces the labor andmachine hours necessary to nish such articles. Furthermore by such an arrangement operators may be most efficiently proportioned to the ironing and folding or bundling operations, or one operator may iron a large number of articles and thereafter vshut down the ironing machine and perform the folding and bundling operations on the finished articles.

Another feature of my present invention is the provision of novel structure for receiving fabric articles `direct from an ironing machine and conveying them to a stacking device. Such features include a novel arrangement of conveying means for conservation of floor space and for the provision of a steaming off period so that the fabric articles are thoroughly dry When stacked.

Another feature of my improved stacking machine is an arrangement of oscillating stacking arms adapted to receive an ironed fabric article and convey it in unwrinkled condition to the top of a stack of such articles.

In combination with the stacking arms described in the preceding paragraph my inventionI provides a novel arrangement of a receiving table for such articles which is operated in coordination with the stacking arms so as to maintain a constant level of the pile of stacked ar ticles.

Another feature of my invention is the novel arrangement of the conveying device which receives the fabric articles in ironed condition and carries them to position over stacking arms in such a way that the stacking arms require the minimum movement.

Another novel feature of my device is the arrangement of control mechanism for operating the stacking arms Which take the ironed articles from the conveyor to place them in a pile. These novel 4features include the initiation of the stacking arm movement by the trailing edge of a thin fabric article Without physical contact with any tripping device, together with means for holding the fabric articles in a predetermined position until the moment when they are received by the stacking arm for conveyance to the stacking table. This results in stacking the articles with one edge thereof perfectly alined with other articles in the pile.

Other novel features of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and specification and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the stacking machine and an ironing machine coupled together for operation. One of the side panels of the stacking machine has been removed to expose the operating parts.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation cf the stacking machine, parts of the rear panel and cover member being broken away to expose the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the release clutch mechanism for the stacking table.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental detail views partly in section showing a portion of the stacking arm operating mechanism in various positions.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmental detail views of the clutch mechanism assembly for the stacking arm operating mechanism in two diierent operating positions.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism of Figs. 7 and 8, certain parts being shown in elevation and other parts in section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig 10 is a View taken substantially along the line IIJ-IU of Fig. 1 showing in somewhat diagrammatic form operating switches and actuating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of mechanism for taking up slack in the ironing machine delivery ribbons.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the control and operating circuits.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental view along the line I3-I3 of Fig. 4.

The stacking machine is provided with a suitable framework which comprises side frames I and I a which are tied together by suitable cross members 2 and housed by side panels 3 and 3a, the latter being hinged or otherwise removably secured to the frame to provide access to the interior of the machine. Suitable longitudinal supporting angles 4 and 5 are provided on each side of the machine for supporting parts of the operating mechanism.

Conveying mechanism The stacking machine is provided with conveying means for receiving ironed articles from almost any type of ironing machine. For purposes of illustration I have shown a portion of a machine 6 which is more fully illustrated, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,925,532, granted September 5, 1933. In this machine fabric articles are ironed by passage between a roll and chest and the ironed articles are then delivered by the conveyor tapes 'l over the rear lip 8 of the ironing machine chest. In combining this ironing machine with my improved stacking machine I have carried the delivery tapes I around a roll 9 which is supported in a suitable y bracket I0 on the stacking machine frame. Each of the delivery tapes 'I is provided with an automatic tightening device I I for taking up the slack therein. These devices are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 11. stacking machine for receiving the ironed articles from the ironing machine comprises a plurality of endless spaced ribbons I2 which pass about the rolls I3, I4, I5, a plurality of pulleys I6, and rolls I'I and I8. These rolls and pulleys are rotatably supported upon suitable brackets rigid with the framework of the stacking machine. Roll I3 is carried by brackets I9. Rolls I4 and I8 are carried by brackets I8, roll I8 being adjustable to regulate the tension of the ribbons. I 5 and il are carried by brackets 29, and the pulleys I3 are rigidly mounted on shaft 2l which in turn is supported in brackets 22.

Another set of conveyor ribbons 23 are provided for carrying the articles along the Vertical run The conveyor means in the 24 of the ribbons I2. The ribbons 23 lie opposite the ribbons i2 and in similar spaced relation transversely of the machine. The ribbons 23 pass about the rolls I4 and 25. The roll 25 is rotatably mounted in brackets 2D and is adjustable so as to control the tension of the ribbons 23.

For driving the ribbons I2 and 23, motor 26 drives a speed reduction unit ending in sprocket 27 and a chain 28 passes over sprockets 2l, 29, 38, 3! and 32. Sprocket 29 is adjustably mounted in brackets I8 so as to take up the slack in chain 28. Sprocket 3l) is rotatable with roll I4 and sprocket 3| is rotatable with shaft 2I. Sprockets 38 and 3| are of the same diameter, and roll I4 and pulley I6 are the same diameter so that the tapes I2 and 23 move at the same speed. Sprocket 32 is rotatable on shaft 33 which rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 34.

It will be noted that the conveyor tapes I2 are adapted to receive articles from the delivery tapes 'I of the ironing machine and to then convey the articles in a vertically zigzag path which gives a period for steaming oif of the ironed articles in case any moisture is still left in them so that they do not wrinkle when stacked. Furthermore by carrying the articles up the vertical run 24 and then moving them down the run they are presented at a steep angle, greater than 45 to th'e horizontal, in front of the stacking arms which are later to receive and pile the articles. This provides a shorter movement of the stacking arm than would otherwise be necessary, as will be later pointed out.

Stacking arm mechanism A plurality of stacking arms or iiy arms 35 are rigidly connected with shaft 36 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 31. Rigid with shaft 3B is a crank arm 38 to which is pivotally connected a link 39 which in turn is pivotally connected with a crank arm 40, which in turn is rigidly mounted upon the left end of shaft 33 as viewed in Fig. 2. The throw of crank 40 is less than the throw of crank 38 so that one revoluticn of shaft 33 and crank 4D results in oscillation of crank 38 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 6 and back again to the position of Fig. 4. This results in a movement of the stacking arms 35 from their normal position of rest just below the ribbons I2 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to a substantially horizontal posltion indicated at A in dash-dot lines therein which places an article upon the Stacking table 4I and the arms then return to the full line position of Fig. 4.

A snubbing device is provided for the counterclockwise movement of arms 35 as viewed in Fig. 4. This comprises an arm 42 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 36 and which carries an arcuate lug 43 facing toward crank 38. The crank carries an arcuate lug 44 which is adapted to engage lug 43 upon oscillation of crank 38 to the intermediate dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5. A spring 45 connected between the frame and arm 42 normally biases the arm in its vertical position of Fig. 5. Upon engagement of lug 44 with lug 43 as crank 38 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, arm 42 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and spring 45 is extended as shown in Fig. 6. This snubs the action of arms 35 as they approach the position A of Fig. 4. Upon the return of arms 35 to the full line position of Fig. 4 they strike a bumper 45 suitably mounted in the frame.

The stacking arms are oscillated intermittently by the production of a singlerevolution of shaft 33 at appropriate times as will be later disclosed. The rotation of shaft 33 is provided by means of a one-revolution clutch device best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Pinned to shaft 33 is a disk il which carries a dog member 48 which is pivotally mounted on pin 49 carried by the disk. The dog member is normally biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 by a suitable spring 50. This movement is limited by pin 5| on disk 4l. When so biased, as shown in Fig. 8J an arm 48a of the dog member is provided with a suitable lug which engages one of a plurality of rollers 52 which are carried by a disk 53. Disk 53 is part of a unitary structure comprising the said disk, sprocket 32 and flywheel 54. This unit is assembled and held together by bolts 55 and is rotatably mounted upon the extreme end of shaft 33. Thus at such times as the dog member arm 43a is in the position of Fig. 8, disks 53 and lll will rotate in unison and shaft 33 will turn the crank arm 40. The dog d8 is normally held in the inoperative position of Fig. '7 with the arm 48a out of engagement with the rollers 52 by means of a bell crank member 56. This member has a downwardly extending arm 56a adapted to engage the arm 48D of dog member 48 as shown in Fig. 7. An arm 55h is pivotally connected by link 5'! with the plunger energized the arm 56a will normally move into position to engage arm 68D of the dog member and hold the clutch disengaged. Upon energization of the solenoid 55 the parts move to the position of Fig. 8, thus releasing dog member li to its biasing means and engaging the clutch. The energization of the solenoid 55 is only momentary as will be later described so that arm 55a shortly after movement to the position of Fig. 8 returns to the position of Fig. 'l and engages the dog member 48 upon the completion of one revolution of the clutch. An arm 5Go on bell crank 53 engages stops Si! on the frame to limit its movement.

A brake shoe 8l engages disk 41 to provide a constant drag thereon so that the disk lil' stops promptly upon disengagement of the one-revolution clutch. The brake shoe is carried on an arm 52 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 53 and biased against the disk lil' by a spring B.

Stacking table The stacking table 4I is mounted on a pair of vertical rods 55 which pass through suitable bearings 55 and 6l on the frame so that the table ll! may be lowered and raised as desired. The table is biased in its uppermost position by springs 38 which are connected between rods i la and a suitable portion of the frame of the machine. Suitable driving mechanism is provided between the stacking arm drive and the rods E5 so as to lower table il by small increments as articles are stacked on the table fil. This drive is so arranged with respect to the thickness of the articles being stacked that the top of the pile on table lll is always in substantially the same position so as to maintain uniform conditions between the stacking arms and the pile of finished articles. This driving mechanism will now be described.

Upon shaft 33 is an eccentric 69 which is connected by a link lo with a link 1| which in turn is rotatably mounted on shaft 'l2 and carries a dog 'lla which engages teeth on the ratchet wheel 'i3 which in turn is rigidly mounted on shaftl 12. A detent lll holds the ratchet wheel 'i3 against reverse movement. This mechanism is at the left end of shaft 72 as seen in Fig. 2. Upon the right end of shaft I2 and rigid therewith is a pinion 15 which meshes with a gear 16 which in turn is rotatably mounted upon a shaft l?. Gear 15 carries upon its right-hand face as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, clutch teeth 16a which are adapted to engage coacting clutch portions on a clutch member 78 mounted on shaft TI by a key whereby the parts 'il and i8 rotate together but the clutch member 'i8 is movable axially on shaft 1l. A clutch fork 19 is pivotally mounted at 80 in a bracket on the frame and engages clutch member 'i3 for actuation thereof. The fork is connected by link 3l and crank 32 with an operating pedal 83 at the front of the machine. A spring 8d biases the pedal in its uppermost position which corresponds to engagement of the clutch members i8 and 15a. Pinned to shaft 'VI are pinions 85 which engage racks 55a on rod 65. The above described train of parts is so arranged that upon one revolution of shaft 33 the table 4I is lowered by substantially the thickness of one of the articles stacked.

When the table lll reaches or approaches its lowermost position or at any time desired by the operator the stacking machine is stopped, the pile is removed from table il and the table is returned again to its uppermost position.v This is accomplished by depressing pedal 83 which disengages clutch members 7B and lia which permits springs 58 to return the table to its uppermost position. This movement is snubbed by springs 85 which are compressed between suitable collars on rods 55 and portions of the frame.

It is desirable to enclose the stacking arms during the operation of the machine and to this end a cover member 3i is provided having a front panel Bla and side arm members 87h which are pivotally connected at 88 with ears 85 on bearing brackets 3l. Stop member 95 on a side arm lb of the cover member engages stop member 9| on the :frame when the cover is closed and stop member 92 on the cover member engages stop member 9! when the cover is in open position. Rigid with the cover member side arms are arms S3 which support counterweights 3G to balance the weightv of the cover member. The arrangement of the counterweights is such that whether the cover member be open or closed the counterweights tend to maintain it in that position.

As best seen in Fig. l0 a bracket 95 on the cover member portion Sib depresses a rod 96 when the cover is in closed position so as to hold a control button Sl suitably positioned on the frame in contact-making position. This control feature insures that the machine can only be operated with the cover in its closed or safe position.

Also shown in Fig. l0 are adjustable contacts 38 and 99 rigidly carried by table il and adapted to engage control buttons illil and li suitably mounted on the frame. The contact 93 engages button lil@ to provide a warning signal to the operator as the table approaches its lowermost position so 'that she is prepared to shut the machine down. Contact 99 engages button i0! when the table il reaches its lowest point and shuts the machine down in spite of the operator.

Control and operation The stacking machine as already described is driven by a motor 26 and the ironing machine 6 is driven by motor |02. The motor |02 is a multiple speed motor with a speed control range providing travel of articles through the ironer varying from fifteen feet to twenty-four feet per minute. The motor 26 is single speed and is geared to the ribbon drives to produce a ribbon speed of forty-eight feet per minute, which is double that of the highest speed of the ironer. The purpose of this is to insure a suiiicient gap between the articles in the stacking machine to permit movement of the stacking arms to the stacking position and return before the next article comes into position for handling. Therefore the articles may be fed into the ironing machine in a continuous stream one immediately after the other with their edges almost touching and the necessary gap to permit stacking is produced by the more rapid speed of the stacking machine conveyor.

The control for initiating the operation of the stacking arms comprises a pair of light-sensitive cells |03 and |00 suitably mounted on the frame of the machine above the conveyor ribbons I2 and spaced apart in the direction of travel of the conveyors. The cells here shown are photronic, that, is to say, when exposed to light of suitable intensity an electromotive force is generated which sets up a current in an external circuit sufficient to operated commercial relays Without any amplifying tubes, batteries or auX- iliary apparatus. A suitable light source, such as the lamp |05, is adjustably mounted on a racket |06 beneath the conveyor ribbons i2. A light guard |01 is provided with longitudinal slots 0111 and |011). The arrangement of the light-sensitive or photronic cells, the light source and the guard |01 is such that when no articles are passing along the conveyor, uninterrupted light beams pass from the source |05 through slot |0a, between the ribbons |2 to cell |03, and through slot |01b through the ribbons |2 to cell |04. Referring now to Fig. l2, cells |03 and |04 are connected in a circuit with a polarized relay |08 with their polarities opposed so that when both cells are generating or when both are inactive the relay contact |08a remains in the neutral position shown in Fig. 12. In circuit wlth the cells is a microammeter |09 and a rheostat ||0. In Fig. l2 are also shown the ironer motor |02, a starting and speed controller of standard type therefor, the stacker motor 26, a transformer 2 providing an electrical supply for the stacker control mechanism, a low-voltage transformer H3, a standard commercial current rectier H0, the solenoid 59 previously described, and the control buttons 91, |00 and 50| diagrammatically shown. ||5 is a signal lamp placed where the operator of the ironing machine may see it. The control circuits comprise power supply lines L1, L2 and La connected by switch ||6 to the motor circuits 26 and |02. A disconnect switch ||1 permits operation of the motor |02 separately for repair and maintenance operations on the ironing machine. Switch I1 is normally closed. A coil la. serves to hold switch |6 in operated position when the coil is energized.

In the operation of the machine, assuming that table 0| is in its uppermost position and cover member 81 is closed, the operator moves handle Illa to the position shown in Fig. l2 wherein the conductor |||b bridges the contacts |||c and |||d. The conductors |||e are then in the first position inserting all resistance in the rotor circuit and producing a maximum starting torque for the motor |02. Connecting |||c and |||d establishes a circuit from L1, wire IIB, coil Illia, wire H0, normally open button 01 held closed by cover 81, normally closed button |05, wire |20 and wire |2| to Le. Energization of coil iia closes switch |22 and switch ||0 thus starting motor |02. As the operator moves controller handle |||a clockwise, conductor |||b bridges contacts |||c and |I|f which through wire |23 and switch |22 keeps coil ||8a energized. Stop members |24 limit the movement of conductor Ib but continued clockwise movement of controller handle |||a rotates the conductors |||e cutting out resistance in the rotor circuit and controlling the speed of the motor |02 as desired. This is a standard type of controller for ironing machines and assures starting with full torque because each time the machine is shut down the controller handle must be moved back to the starting position shown in Fig. 12. This position of the controller provides a means for shutting down both the ironer and stacking machine at the feed end of the ironer.

With both machines in operation, articles are fed into the ironing machine and passing therethrough are picked up by the ribbons |2 and conveyed between ribbons l2 and 23 to the downwardly extending conveyor run 25. When the forward edge of the article intercepts the light beam between light |05 and cell |03, the balance between cells |03 and |04 is upset. It will be understood that the rheostat ||0 is adjusted so that the microammeter |09 is at its neutral point or preferably as shown in Fig. l2 the pointer is slightly to the left of the neutral point, indicating a slight lead in tripping direction. This is for the purpose of insuring operation of the device with the thinnest fabrics. Cell |011 is now generating which causes a flow of current through Wire |25, coil of relay |08, wire |26, ammeter |09, wire |21, rheostat ||0 and wire |28. Flow of current in this direction through relay |08 causes movement of contact finger |0Sa toward the right to engage contact point |00b. This is a dead contact and no actuation of mechanism occurs. The deection of ammeter |09 at this time is toward the right.

As the article advances along the conveyor it finally intercepts the light to both cells which re-establishes a balance between them and brings the contact finger back to the neutral position shown in Fig. 12. As the article advances further so that the light beam to cell |04 is interrupted but the light beam to cell |03 is uninterrupted, the latter cell now becomes the only one generating and current flows through wire |30, rheostat ||0, wire |21, ammeter |09, wire |20, coil of relay |08 and Wires |25 and |29. Current now ows through the coil of relay |03 in a direction to deect contact arm |08a toward the left, making contact at |080. This establishes a circuit from the secondary side of transformer ||3 to current rectifier ||d and thence through wire |3|, the coil of power relay |32, wire |33, relay |08 and wire |34 back to the rectifier and transformer. The primary of this transformer receives its supply from the secondary of transformer I|2 through Wires |35 and |36. Energization of the coil of relay |32 closes the contactor |32a establishing a circuit from the secondary of transformer 2 through wires |35, |31 and |38, contact arm |32a, Wire |39, solenoid 59 and wires |40 and |36 back to the transformer ||2. Energization of solenoid 59 raises the plunger 58 and trips the one-revolution clutch described in connection with Figs. '1, 8 and 9. This operates the stacking arms and carries the article over to the stacking table and returns the arms to their normal position beneath the conveyor. When the article has been completely removed from the ribbons |2, the light beams again strike both of the light-sensitive cells and establish the condition of balance which breaks the circuit through contact arm |08a of the polarized relay which in turn breaks the circuit through power relay |32 and deenergizes solenoid 59, thereupon the bell crank 55 moves in a counterclockwise direction to engage the dog 48 as shown in Fig. 7 as soon as the clutch has completed one revolution. The light source |95 receives its current supply from the secondary of transformer ||2 by way of wires |35, |4I, |42 and |36.

To insure that the fabric article remains in the proper position upon the run 25 of the conveyor ribbons |2, a roller |43 is supported by arms |44 in rolling contact with an article lying upon ribbons |2, The roller |43 is so positioned that the trailing edge of the article handled emerges from contact between the roller and the ribbons substantially at the same time as the stacking arms are set in operation to deposit the article on the stacking table. It results from this arrangement that the trailing edge of an article is always in definite relation to the stacking arms and each article is placed with its forward edge in alinement with the article next below it.

As the articles are stacked and the table 4| is gradually lowered as previously described, the contact 98 nally engages button |90 which makes a circuit from the secondary of transformer ||2 through wires |35, |31, |45, |46, lamp ||5 and wires |41 and |36 back to the transformer. This lights lamp ||5 indicating to the operator that only a certain number of articles (say about twenty) can be fed before the machine will shut itself down. Inasmuch as the average bundle of handkerchiefs contains about twelve articles, this is suiiicient to finish the bundle upon which she is working. If the table 4| is permitted to travel to its extreme lower position, contact 99 engages button ||J| and opens the circuit through the holding coil |6a. Switch ||6 which is normally biased to open position will therefore open and automatically shut down both machines.

When table 4| has been loaded with a stack to the full capacity of the machine, the cover 81 is opened to remove the stack of nished articles. This opens button 91 rendering impossible the operation of either machine until the cover is again closed.

Articles may thus be fed continuously through the ironing machine as rapidly as the ironing machine operator can handle them and it will be understood that individual bundles may be marked for separation by any marking means which will lend itself to passage through the ironer and the stacking machine, such as a piece of cloth of distinctive size, shape or color.

What I claim is:

1. In a stacking device for placing flat fabric articles in a substantially horizontal position in a stack, conveying means having a delivery run inclined at an angle to the horizontal, rotatable stacking arms adapted to move from a position beneath and adjacent said conveyor run to horizontal position at said stack, means for causing said movement of said arms, and means for initiating action of said last named means responsive to an article in position on said conveying means for removal therefrom by engagement with said arms, wherein said last named means includes a light sensitive device effective to cause stacking movement of said arms upon movement of the trailing edge of an article on said conveyor beyond a predetermined point, and a roller above said conveyor run for holding the article on said conveyor, said roller being located approximately at said point.

2. In combination, means for stacking articles,

riving means for said stacking means, a cover movable between open and closed positions over said stacking means, and means responsive to movement of said cover to open position for rendering said driving means inoperative.

3. In combination, a table, means for topstacking articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, a motor for operating said stacking means, an operating circuit for said motor, a control member in said circuit normally in olf position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said control member in on position, an energizing circuit for said maintaining means, and a control member in said last named circuit normally in circuit energizing position and arranged for movement into circuit deenergizing position by movement of said table to its lower limit.

4. In combination, means for stacking articles, a cover for said stacking means, a motor for operating said stackingmeans, an operating circuit for said motor, a control member in said circuit normally in off position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said control member in on position, an energizing circuit for said maintaining means, and a control member in said last named circuit normally in circuit deenergizing position and adapted to be held in circuit energizing position when said cover is closed.

5. In a stacking device for flat fabric articles, conveying means having a delivery run inclined at a steep angle to the horizontal beyond the angle of repose of articles lying on said delivery run, said conveying means comprising a plurality of parallel ribbons spaced at intervals across the entire width of said conveying means, rotatable stacking arms movable from a position beneath and adjacent said conveyor run through said conveying means to a substantially horizontal stacking table, and a bar extending transversely of said conveying means outside of the path of travel of said arms for holding an article on said delivery run until it reaches a position closely adjacent said arms.

6. In combination, a table, means for top stacking articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, power means for operating 

